Temperature regulation of an inductor assembly

Abstract

A vehicle is provided with a transmission having an inductor assembly. The inductor assembly is mounted within the transmission such that it is directly cooled by transmission fluid through at least one of spraying, splashing and immersion. The transmission includes at least one gear that is configured to, when rotating, transmit torque between an input and output of the transmission and splash fluid onto the inductor assembly to cool the inductor assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transmission comprising:
 a housing; and 
 a cylindrical inductor assembly disposed within the housing and including a coil having exposed exterior surface area portions and a core formed onto the coil such that at least a portion of the exterior surface area portions is exposed to fluid within the transmission to cool the coil; and 
 at least two intermediate gears rotatably coupled to the transmission and disposed within a chamber defined by the transmission, the intermediate gears being in contact with the fluid and configured to displace a portion of the fluid onto the cylindrical inductor assembly during rotation, wherein the intermediate gears are configured to mechanically connect an engine and at least one electric machine oriented axially adjacent to the engine, to a driveshaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The transmission of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical inductor assembly is mounted within a lower region of the chamber, and wherein the fluid accumulates in the lower region such that the cylindrical inductor assembly is immersed in the fluid. 
     
     
       3. The transmission of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical inductor assembly is mounted within an upper region of the chamber, and wherein the fluid accumulates in a lower region of the chamber. 
     
     
       4. The transmission of  claim 3  further comprising a nozzle disposed in the upper region of the chamber and configured to displace the fluid toward the cylindrical inductor assembly. 
     
     
       5. The transmission of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical inductor assembly is mounted within an intermediate region of the chamber between an upper region and a lower region;
 wherein the transmission further comprises a nozzle disposed in the intermediate region and configured to displace the fluid toward the cylindrical inductor assembly. 
 
     
     
       6. The transmission of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one element rotatably coupled to the transmission and disposed within a chamber defined by the transmission, the element being in contact with the fluid and configured to displace a portion of the fluid onto the cylindrical inductor assembly during rotation. 
 
     
     
       7. The transmission of  claim 6  wherein the transmission defines a second chamber having a plurality of gears disposed therein, wherein a passage is formed through the transmission between the second chamber and the chamber to facilitate flow of the fluid between the chambers;
 wherein the at least one element further comprises a rotating shaft extending through the transmission. 
 
     
     
       8. A transmission comprising:
 a housing; 
 a cylindrical inductor assembly disposed within the housing and including a coil having exposed exterior surface area portions and a core formed onto the coil such that at least a portion of the exterior surface area portions is exposed to fluid within the transmission to cool the coil; and 
 at least one element rotatably coupled to the transmission and disposed within a chamber defined by the transmission, the element being in contact with the fluid and configured to displace a portion of the fluid onto the cylindrical inductor assembly during rotation, wherein the at least one element further comprises a rotating shaft extending through the transmission; and 
 wherein the transmission defines a second chamber having a plurality of gears disposed therein, wherein a passage is formed through the transmission between the second chamber and the chamber to facilitate flow of the fluid between the chambers. 
 
     
     
       9. The transmission of  claim 8  wherein the cylindrical inductor assembly is mounted within a lower region of the chamber, and wherein the fluid accumulates in the lower region such that the cylindrical inductor assembly is immersed in the fluid. 
     
     
       10. The transmission of  claim 8  wherein the cylindrical inductor assembly is mounted within an upper region of the chamber, and wherein the fluid accumulates in a lower region of the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The transmission of  claim 10  further comprising a nozzle disposed in the upper region of the chamber to displace the fluid toward the cylindrical inductor assembly. 
     
     
       12. The transmission of  claim 8  wherein the cylindrical inductor assembly is mounted within an intermediate region of the chamber between an upper region and a lower region;
 wherein the transmission further comprises a nozzle disposed in the intermediate region to displace the fluid toward the cylindrical inductor assembly. 
 
     
     
       13. The transmission of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of gears further comprise:
 intermediate gears being in contact with the fluid to displace a portion of the fluid onto the cylindrical inductor assembly during rotation, wherein the intermediate gears mechanically connect an engine and at least one electric machine oriented adjacent to the engine, to a driveshaft.